Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Administration Office and Visitor Center — Attraction in Arizona

My family and I had a fantastic time this past Saturday (04/09/2022) with #ZetasInTheWild. My wife and I took 8 of our children to have a day exploring with my wife's Sorors. It was a 2 hour drive which we did not mind at all and we got to look over the desert landscape and also hear about histories of some of the towns we passed through (when I wasn't passed out in the back LoL). When we arrived to the welcome center we got to go into the museum to learn about some of the animals that inhabit the area. The children were so excited to see the different animals. We also were able to walk a nearby trail and see some pup fish in a nearby pond. Our main guide/ranger, Soto was very informative and welcoming. Next we took a bus trip to the top of Child's Mountain. The trip up the mountain seemed like an adventure in itself with all the winding turns and steep views down the side of the mountain we could see just over the edge of the bus. We could hear the streaks of two of our daughters as the bus ebbed and flowed trying to find a way up the mountain safely. The views were breathtaking once we arrive safely at our destination. I couldn't stop thinking of God's majesty while gazing over His creation. We were able to see some of the native birds with the binoculars leant to us by the bus driver/guide. It was interesting watching the buzzards hover on the winds looking for something to eat. After about an hour & a half we travelled back to the welcome center to have lunch. The staff was again accommodating because I wanted to warm up my cold sandwich (I'm bougie like that LoL). The food was good and as we ate we received a history lesson of the area and also how our guides got into their careers working with National Wildlife Refuges. After a brief q&a. There was a quiz.. dun, dun duuuun! And I didn't win cuz I guess I wasn't paying attention. The wifey did get a question right though so I guess by default I did win (gift card) because what's hers is mine also LMBO. Overall it was a great experience the children couldn't stop talking about how much fun they'd had and I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get outside of the city and learn about different environments and habitats and animals....

🌵 A Hidden Gem (Even When Closed!) – Cabeza Prieta NWR Visitor Center 🌵

We stopped by the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Administration Office and Visitor Center on a Sunday (when it was closed), but we’re so glad we did! Even without access to the building, the outdoor trail and viewing areas made our visit worthwhile.

Highlights of Our Visit: Pupfish spotting! In a small protected pond, we saw these tiny endangered desert pupfish—a rare and special sight. Javelina encounter! A wild javelina trotted by, giving us an up-close look at one of the Sonoran Desert’s most iconic creatures. Bird blind & trail – Though the feeders were empty (so no birds this time), the shaded viewing area looks like a great spot for wildlife watching when active.

Final Thoughts: While we’d love to return when the visitor center is open (likely with even more exhibits and info), the outdoor features alone made this a fun and unexpected stop. If you’re passing through Ajo and love desert wildlife, it’s worth a quick visit—just don’t expect much if you go on a weekend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) – Quiet but rewarding! Check hours for the full experience.

Tip: Pair this with a trip to nearby Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for more...

So far it seems pretty remote and quiet except for about 1000000 border patrol agents roaring around on OHVs and in trucks. The road in is a typical desert road. It has soft areas, washboarding and crosses many washes. I never had to use 4WD but I can see why they recommend it...you never know when you might run into deeper sand. Also, some of the ruts might bottom out a low rig or a long rig. I would not drive a Class C in here (too much length behind the rear axle...I would expect to bottom that out). I touched bottom somewhere once, not sure where, maybe my hitch?

The real challenge with the road is not that it's bad. I've driven many worse. The issue is that it's long, like 40 miles to the first campground. That is tiring to drive at 10-30 mph. It took me around 2.5 hours in a 4WD pickup with a shell on the back.

The campground is primitive, of course, with no facilities except a few picnic tables, but the desert is pretty (think typical Sonoran desert, similar to, say, KofA NWR). The portion of the road that traverses the Organ Pipe Cactus NM is beautiful and definitely worth a look-in. It is also the worst part...